“Today I held a meeting with the Speaker of Parliament of Burundi and his deputy who briefed me on the political situation there. The Speaker, Mr Pascal Nyabenda, doubles as the chairman of the ruling party CNDD-FDD, while the Deputy Speaker, Mr Agathon Rwasa, heads the opposition, Amizero y’Abarundi coalition. They informed me that the government of President Pierre Nkurunziza and the opposition had agreed to work together for the interest of their country and sought Kenya’s support for further reconciliation in Burundi. I told the two leaders, who were accompanied by MPs from the two sides, that they can count on Kenya’s support for all efforts aimed at fostering peace in Burundi. The region’s interest is to have a peaceful Burundi because we cannot let you go back to the violence which you have gone through before. I am happy to see that your team is composed of all the sides of the political spectrum sending a strong signal to the world that you want peace. Regional leaders are willing to continue supporting Burundi to remain peaceful but the biggest responsibility rests with Burundians themselves.” President Uhuru Kenyatta